Improved car-coupling



J. D. M. AMBRUST.

Car Coupling.

Patented Dec. 1,1868.

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w mmm M ILPETERS. PHOTO UTHOGRAFNnR VIASHXNGTON u C J. D. M. ARMBRUST,OF APOLLOBOROUGH. PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 84,465, dated December 1, 1868.

IMPROVED cA z-coUPLrNG.

' The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe same.

Be it known that I, J. D. M..ARMBRUST, of Apols loborough, county ofArmstrong, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improvedMode of Coupling Railroad-Oars; and 'I do hereby declare thatthe-following is a full and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.-

Figure l is a top View, showing the compoundlever which operates thecoupling-pin.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same, and its supporting-flame.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the coupling-device.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same.

Figure 5 is a front view of the same.

It is well known that in order to render a self-coupler eiiective onrailroad-cars, it is indispensably'necessary that the link should everbe held in a horizontal position, or directly in line with the draw-heador bumper,

so that-the free end .of the same can readily enter the oppositedraw-head, when it is desired to unite the cars together.

My invention consists in so arranging a series of springs within anordinary draw-head that they form, as it were, a metallic case. Now, sosoonas the link enters within this case, the natural tendency of thesprings is to grasp the link, and with a force sufficient to prevent itsfree end from falling,,but still, at the same time, not graspingitwithforce suflicient to prevent its having that necessary play required inorder that it can readily accommodate itself to the swaying and-boundingof the car while in motion.

My invention alsoconsists in arranging within the draw-head anadditional spring to those used in forming the case, and above referredto, and which is connected to the bearing-plate by the. same pin. Thisspring operates the keeper-plate, which retains the pin in an elevatedposition when required to secure the My invention also consists insecuring to the drawhead an independent frame, which furnishes thenecessary support for the compound lever that operates the coupling-pin,when it is desired to elevate the same.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is an ordinary draw-head or bumper.

B is abearing-plate, which is secured by means of screws to the upperand lower plates, a and a, of the draw-head A. Instead of the plate B, apost or other equivalent device can readily be used, should the same bepreferred.

0 and G, D and D are two metal sheets, so bent as to leave straightbearing-surfiices, asshown at c and d,,figs. 3 and 4.

These springs O and O and D and D form a me- 'tallic case, and are soflared at their outer or free ends,

0' and cl, as to form a funnel-shaped opening for' th reception of thelink.

The springs D and D are provided with lugs or Wings (1 and (P, whichwork in slots 0 and 0, arranged in the springs O and O, the slots actingas guides for the lugs in order to secure the proper action of thesprings.

On the spring 0', and a short distance in the rear of the slots 0 0,there is a boss, E. This boss E is cylindrical and hollow, and'isimmediately over an opening left in the plate 0 for the coupling-pin topass through.

F is the keeper, and retains the coupling-pin in an:

elevated position, as shown in fig. 2. This keeper, F, is composed ofmetallic plates, and is in the form of an elbow.

Against one arm of this elbow presses a coil-spring, G. Thiscoil-spring, G, when not compressed by the action of the link, forcesthe keeper to such position that itsnpper arm closes the openingin thespring, over which rests the boss E.

To the arm, of the keeper F there are firmly secured screw-bolts, whichpass a 'slot, 0*, in the spring 0, and through a plate, f.

These plates, f and f are united by the screw-bolts and nuts f and havetheir bearingsin the upper and lower surface of the spring 0.

Through the centre of the plate B there is an openiug in which works ascrew-bolt, H. On this bolt H works the coil-spring G. This bolt alsopasses through openings in the straight bearingsurface a d of thesprings O and O, D and D, the-latter acting as nuts to firmly secure theentire spring-mechanism together, and insure the joint and unitedoperation of the same. It will be observed that by this arrangement thesprings have their entire hearings in the rear, and at a single point.The great advantage resulting from this is found in the fact that theouter opening is entirely free, which cannot be when one or more of thesprings are secured at or near the mouth of the draw-head.

I is an open frame, which works on the draw-head A.-

To the lower surface of the frame I there are attached two guide-plates,i t, which are so recessed at their outer ends as to grasp the lowerplate a of the draw-head A. These plates t i retain the frame I in aproper position to insure the direct and perpendicular action of thecoupling-pin.

To the upright arms of the flame -I,'I secure two plates, K K. Theseplates are arranged at right angles to each other.

The plate K is provided with projecting bearings k and It, to which aresecured, and in which work the compound lever L and L. a

To the outer end of the lever L is secured, by links m, the coupling-pinM. 7

The operation is as follows:

Suppose the end, a, of the link N to be secured within a draw-headof acar, the opposite draw-head, coupling-pin, &e., will be in the positionvshown in fig.- 3, the pin M resting in the boss E, and retained in anelevated position by the plate f of the keeper F. The link N entersthrough the mouth of the draw-head A. and theifunnel-opening of thesprings G and (3, D and the pin M still being held inan elevatedposition until the end,'n, of the link comes in contact with the plate ff the keeper F, which presses back the coilspring and withdraws theplatev f from under the opening the bottom of the boss E, when the pinMwill instant y fall, and the cars are coupled.

When it is desired to uncouple the cars, you have only to place yourfoot on the lever L, and the pin is withdrawn, and so soon as the platef is relieved from the pressure of the link, the spring G forces thekeeper F outto a position that causes the plate f to again close theopening at the bottom of the boss E.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim therein as new, and'desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-- 1. Arranging, within a draw-head, A, a series ofsprings, G and G, D and D, when the same are secured by a singleb0lt,'H, at the rear of the same, thus leaving their forward opening ormouth entirely free, substantially as described, as and for the purposespecified. Q 7

2. "The combination of the keeper F, spring G, plate B, and bolt H, whenthe former is secured to and Works upon the spring 0, substantially asdescribed, as and for the purpose specified.

J. D. M. ARMBRUST. Witnesses R. S. OOGHRAN,

W. H. WATT.

